Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
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WILLIAM FORBES.
Among the well‑known citizens and representative farmers of the Azusa is
the subject of this sketch. Mr. Forbes came to this place in 1875 and purchased
a claim of eighty acres of land of John Shelton. This land is located about two
miles south of the present site of Azusa City. At the time of his purchase it
was nearly
all in a wild and uncultivated state. His years of labor have produced good
results, and among his improvements may be noted a fine orchard of French prunes
of six acres in extent, four acres of apricots, two acres of oranges, two acres
of peaches, apples and pears and other deciduous fruits; also six acres in
alfalfa, which by his
system of irrigation is made to produce a yearly yield of ten tons per acre. The
rest of his land is devoted to general farming and stock-raising. Among his
stock are some fine specimens of draft horses of Norman breed, and roadsters of
"Billy Lee" stock; also Jersey cattle. Mr. Forbes is a native of Prince Edward's
Island, and dates his birth in 1843. He is the son of Peter and Margaret
(Robinson) Forbes. His father was a native of Prince Edward's Island, and his
mother was born in Scotland. The subject of this sketch was reared as a farmer,
in which calling his father was engaged. At the age of nineteen years he started
in life for himself and emigrated to the United States. Soon after his arrival
in New York he came via steamer route to California. After a short stay in San
Francisco he went to Nevada and located at Steamboat Springs, where he engaged
in contracting and furnishing wood for the mills at that point. He was
successful in his business, and continued his operations until forced to abandon
them on account of the timber claims of the United States controlling the wood
lands of that section. In 1868 he located in Inyo County, California, and there
engaged in farming until 1872. In that year he returned to Nevada and engaged in
stock business in Death's Valley. That not proving a success, in the fall of
that year he located in San Bernardino County, California, and commenced farming
operations upon rented lands. He conducted his operations in that county until
1875, when he took up his present residence. Mr. Forbes is a practical farmer,
devoting his lands to diversified products, and has been successful in his
enterprise. He is a strong believer in the wealth and future prosperity that
await his section of the San Gabriel Valley, and is a supporter of such
enterprises as tend to develop its resources. He is a stockholder, director and
treasurer of the Azusa Irrigating Company. In politics he is a straightforward
Republican. In May, 1888, Mr. Forbes was united in marriage with Miss Susannah
C. McCallum, a native of Prince Edward's Island, and the daughter of Stephen
McCullum. Mr. Forbes's father died in 1876. His mother died at his home in 1879.
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California � Chicago, The Lewis
Publishing Company, 1889 Page 733
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler